Networks change. We verify your specific Optum Behavioral Health plan before your first visit; call with your member ID and we will confirm benefits, copay and any referral or authorization requirements.
Also appears on cards as: Optum, OptumHealth, United Behavioral Health, UBH.
Optum Behavioral Health is the managed behavioral health organization that administers mental health and substance use benefits for UnitedHealthcare and for many employer plans, unions and other insurers that carve out behavioral health. If your card lists Optum, United Behavioral Health or a behavioral health phone number separate from the medical line, Optum is likely paying for your psychiatry visits. Optum credentials providers separately from the medical network, sets the rates, and processes claims. Cost sharing follows your underlying plan, usually a specialist copay or coinsurance, and referrals are not needed for outpatient psychiatry. Telehealth psychiatry is covered at parity for members in Florida and South Carolina.
Optum applies UnitedHealthcare's clinical guidelines for interventional treatments. Transcranial magnetic stimulation requires prior authorization with documentation of major depressive disorder, failure of at least two adequate antidepressant trials, and a standardized severity score; initial approvals typically cover a standard course with continuation based on documented response. Spravato authorizations require treatment-resistant depression, a concurrent oral antidepressant and administration at a REMS-certified site, and are often split between the induction phase and maintenance. Stedfast Psychiatry works with Optum regularly and submits authorizations through its provider portal, which usually produces decisions within a few business days.
What we check before your visit
- Whether your plan is in network at the office you chose and for telehealth
- Your copay or coinsurance for an evaluation and for follow-ups
- Whether a primary-care referral is required (common with HMO plans)
- Prior-authorization criteria for Deep TMS and Spravato, if those are being considered
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean that Optum manages my behavioral health benefits?
It means your psychiatry visits are authorized and paid by Optum rather than by the medical insurer on the front of your card. Your deductible and copays still come from your underlying plan. When you call to verify benefits, use the behavioral health number on your card so you reach Optum directly.
Is Stedfast Psychiatry in the Optum network?
Stedfast Psychiatry works with Optum Behavioral Health for UnitedHealthcare and other plans that use Optum. Optum networks can vary by plan, so confirm that our providers are listed for your specific product or ask our staff to run an eligibility check before your first visit.
Does Optum cover telehealth psychiatry?
Yes. Optum covers video visits for evaluations, medication management and follow-up at the same benefit level as office visits for members located in Florida or South Carolina during the appointment. Telehealth is a permanent benefit, not a temporary pandemic measure, under most Optum-administered plans.
How does Optum handle TMS authorization?
Optum requires prior authorization for TMS and reviews requests against UnitedHealthcare's clinical policy. Our Palm Beach Gardens team submits your diagnosis, medication history, psychotherapy history and current severity score through the Optum provider portal. Initial approvals usually cover the standard course, with a brief continuation request for the final tapering sessions.
Does Optum cover Spravato treatment?
Spravato requires prior authorization through Optum or OptumRx, depending on whether your plan bills it as a medical or pharmacy benefit. Criteria include treatment-resistant depression, a concurrent oral antidepressant and treatment at a certified clinic. We submit the request, arrange the drug supply, and schedule your induction sessions once approval arrives.